Juzo (Germany)

Rectification processes under vacuum conditions play an essential role in the chemical industries. The reason to perform these thermal fractionation processes below atmospheric conditions mainly result from lower process temperatures and the simplification of fractionation due to an increase in average relative volatilities of species involved. For rectification columns in general, separation trays, random and structured packings are the prevailing internals at choice. For rectification columns operated under vacuum, however, structured packings are usually the best-suited internal mass transfer equipment in particular as they tolerate high gas loads at minimum pressure losses. For comparably high-vacuum services of only a few mbar column top pressure and allowable pressure drop restrictions over the column, structured packings of woven fibre fabric are most suitable. They offer the lowest pressure drop per theoretical stage and a very high separation performance even at low liquid loads that are usually encountered in rectification under vacuum conditions.

Circulating tissue factor (TF) is an important determinant of coronary thrombosis. Among other cell types, such as monocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are capable of releasing TF. When studied under static conditions, SMCs do release TF, but this process is slow and, thus, cannot explain the elevated levels of circulating TF, as observed in patients with acute coronary syndromes. The present study demonstrates that cultured human mammary artery SMCs very rapidly (minutes) release active, microparticle-bound TF when exposed to flow conditions. There was a clear log-linear correlation between the shear rate (range 10 s −1 to 1500 s −1 ) and the procoagulant activity of SMC perfusates. Flow-dependent release of TF was transient (10 minutes) and did not measurably reduce cell surface TF content. Interestingly, a time-dependent (t 1/2 30 minutes) re-exposure of releasable TF was detected after a no-flow period. These data demonstrate that SMCs may become a pathophysiologically relevant source of TF that can be rapidly released into the circulation in situations in which endothelial damage occurs and SMCs come into a close contact with the flowing blood. ( Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol . 2006;26:e34–e37.)

Abstract No abstracts.

Tom PETERS (1) hat das letzte Kapitel seines Buches “Kreatives Chaos” ubertitelt mit “Systeme fur eine chaotische Welt”. Er bringt damit drastisch zum Ausdruck, das sich die Bedingungen fur das Management andern, aber auch, das die verwendeten Systeme diesem geanderten Szenario angepast werden mussen. Die Geschichte wird zeigen, wie dramatisch diese Anderungen ausfallen werden, sie wird auch zeigen, ob das Rechnungswesen diesen geanderten Anspruchen gerecht werden kann.

de

Crisis in Communication 1 has divided scientific journals into two classes-those that are primarily newspapers and those that serve as permanent records of scientific achievement.Circulation Research is primarily a journal that presents today and records permanently new achievements in cardiovascular science.Therefore, the first function of Circulation Research is to achieve and maintain excellence in its class.According to Wiggers, 2 "Success or failure of a journal to achieve its ideals ... is determined fundamentally by its contributors."According to Landis, s "The excellence of a journal depends fundamentally on the standards adhered to by each member of the Editorial Board."Both are correct.A scientific journal achieves excellence only when the articles published in it present important new advances in basic understanding in the field.This occurs in two steps.The first is when the editorial board, by its review and priority system, indicates to the scientific community that the board has high standards and will not recommend for acceptance articles that have been published in part or in whole elsewhere, or represent minor variations on a larger theme, or reconfirm well-established knowledge, or are incomplete or not well documented.The second step occurs when scientists consider that the acceptance of their research by this editorial board is at least a minor distinction and consequently submit to it only their very best effort.Dr. Landis (see page 1) and his board, continuing the work of Dr. Carl Wiggers and then of Dr. Carl Schmidt, have brought Circulation Research to this enviable position and have achieved the first function of this journal.My role is to maintain the present excellence and, when possible, to develop other functions of a journal.A second important function of any journal is that it be maximally useful to its readers.This requires identifying what the majority of readers want.Most readers, I believe, agree that certain matters are desirable.Two of these are prompt publication of completed research and saving the readers' time.